Slice receiver and collector



A ril 29, 1930.

' J. FOLK SLICE RECEIVER AND COLLECTOR Filed Aug. is, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1930 FQLK 1,756,424

SLICE RECEIVER AND COLLECTOR Fi led Aug. 16, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 April 29, 1930. FOLK 1,756,424

IVER AND COLLECTOR 7 Filed Aug. 16, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet a Patented Apr. 29, 1930 JOSEPH roux, or LA PO PATENT I INDIANA. ASSIGNQR To 11. s. SLICING MACHINE olu- P' e were N I CORPQReTIQN 9F INDIA A SLICE BECEIVER AND COLLECTOR Application filed August 16, 1926. Serial No. 129,326.

This invention relates to meat slicing machines of the general type disclosed in my copending applicati n, SBI ial No. 129,325., filed August 16, 1926, and directed to means for receiving and assembling the slices as they are formed by a machine for slicing meat an oth mat r a nd has f r it bjec he pro is on a su a d ce which hall e o improved construction and operation; which shall be Simple and economical to manufacure; which sha l r quire a minimum a un of power to operate; and which will assemble the slices in a stack suitable for wrapping. The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a top plan view of a portion of a slicing machine showing the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2.2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of'Fig. 1, with the meat supporting table displaced from the position shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a modified form of slice support;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 is a view similar. to Fig. 4 showing another form of slice support;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The numeral 10 designates the frame of a slicing machine having the usual reciprocating table 11 mounted on a guide bar 12 and movable pasta rotary slicing knife 13 for presenting the material to the knife to be sliced. Projecting forwardly from the base 10 is a bracket 15 having a perforation 16 therein for holding bearing bushings 17 and 18 which are fined therein. A spider 19 is journaled on upwardly projecting portion of the bushing 18 while the bushing 17 is j ournaled in a bracket 20 secured to the spider 19 by screws 21 and extending downwardly below the lower face of the bracket 15. The

bracket 15 is, provided'with a. recess for receivingav ratchet wheel 22 inte pos d b t en he ends off-the bu hings 7 an 18- A spring detent 23 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 22 to hold it against rotation in one direction and a second pawl 24 is carried by a sleeve 25 mounted in the bracket 20 and engages the ratchet wheel 22 to rotate the ratchet wheel when the spider 19 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2. A screw 2.6 extends through the openings in the bushings 1 7 and 18and is provided with a flange 27 at its lower end to limit rip ward movement ofthe screw. A ball 28 is carried in a sleeve 29 in the ratchet wheel 22 and engages the threads of the screw 26. The

ball 28 is held in yielding contact with the threads of the screw 26 by a spring '20. The spider 19 is connected to the reciprocating table 11 by means of a connecting rod 31 having one end pivoted to the spider at 32' and the opposite end carried by a ,d owhwardly projecting pivot pin 33 mounted on a bracket 34 secured to the end oi the reciprocating table 11 by screws It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that reciprocation of the table 11 will be transmitted to the spider which will reciprocate about the axis of the screw 26.

The edge of the spider 19 adjacent the ma chine frame is curved about the axis of the screw 26 and is provided with an upright plate 36 which extends upwardly to a posi tion just below the edge of the reciprocating table 11. The ends of the plate 36 are continued forwardly in straight portions 37. The upper end of the screw 26 carries a horizontal plate 39 fixed to the screw 26 and shaped to iit'within the contour of the plate 36. The shape of the plate 39 fitting within the plate36 constrains the screw 26 'tooscillate in unison. withthe spider 19. It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 4 that when the table 11 moves forwardly on a cutting stroke the spider 19 will bemoved in, a counter-clock.- wise direction and will carry the ratchet 22 with it, the ratchetteeth moving idly over the detent 23. There will be no relative movement between the ratchet wheel and screw 26 at this time since they all travel in unison with one another. During thereturn movement of the feed table and spider.19, however, the ratchet wheel 22 will be held against reverse rotation the detent 23,. while the pawl 24 will ride idly over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. This will permit the screw 26 to rotate relative to the ratchet wheel 22 and impart a downward movement to the screw. l/Vhen the screw 26 reaches its lowermost position the ball 28 will register with a circum ferential notch 40 so that further reciprocation of the spider 19 will not afiect the verti cal position of the screw. The threads of the screw 26 are rounded so that the ball 28 will yield when upward tension is exerted on the knob 41 at the top end of the screw. This makes it possible to return the plate 39 to its uppermost position by lifting the knob 41 with suflicient force to overcome the resistance of the ball 28.

A slice deflector 42 is secured to an upright post 43 which is swiveled in a bracket 44 con nected to the chain box 45 of the slicing machine. The inner edge of the deflector 42 bears against the beveled face of'the knife 13 closely adjacent the edge of the knife. The

deflector is yieldingly held in its operative position by a spring 49 secured to the bracket 44 by cap screws 50. against a squared face of the post 43 and when outward force is exerted on the deflector 42 it may be swung away from the knife 13 and the spring 49 will engage the side 51 of the post 43 and hold the deflector in its.

open position, thus permitting cleaning of the knife and deflector. It will be seen from the drawings that the operative face of the deflector is provided withcorrugations forming limited contact lines for engaging the slices. The corrugations are provided with narrow edges forming substantially line contacts with the slicesas they move away from the slicing knife.

A slice support 54 is arranged adjacent the edge of the reciprocating table 11 in position to support the projecting portion of the material which is severed by the knife 13 to form the slice. The support 54 is carried by a bracket 55 which is fastened to the top of the base 10 by screws 56. A projection 57 extends outwardly from the support 54 adjacent the cutting edge of the knife 13 in position to support the slice as it passes away from the cutting edge. A projection 58 is formed at the bottom edge of the deflector 42,

the projection 58 being slightly below the top face of the support 54 and in position to receive the lower edge of the slice as it moves away from the projection 57 It is found de sirable to have the projections 57 and 58 spaced a slight distance from each other to prevent any material which is drawn downwardly by the knife 13 from being held between the projecti-ons. The projections should be sufliciently close together, however, to form a substantially continuous support for the lower edge of the slice. 7

Resting on top of the plate 39 is a slice supporting plate 60 which is curved to con- This spring bears form to the curvature of the upright plate 36 and is inclined forwardly so as to support the slices, as they are formed, on edge in an inclined position. The plate 60 is arranged to move forwardly at the same time that the plate 39 is fed downwardly so that the plate 60 is given both a downward and forward movement to accommodate the additional slices as they are deposited against the inclined face of the supporting plate. The plate 60 is provided with abottom web 61 which rests on the plate 39 and may be held in position by a screw 62 which travels on a slot 63 in the plate 39. The end portions 37 of the curved plate 36 are provided with inclined slots 64 and the ends of the plate 60 are provided with studs 65 projecting through the slots 64. Rollers '66 may .be mounted'on the studs 65 to reduce the friction of the studs in the slot 64.

At the beginning of a slicing operation, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3. As

the machine is operated, the first slice is de-. posited on the inclined face of the support 60, being directed against the face by the deflector 42. The lower edge of the slice will the slice as it is deposited upon the supporting plate 60. During the return movement of the table 11, the plate 39 Willbe fed downwardly by the ratchet and screw mechanism, previously described. The downward movement of the supporting plate 39 will cause thestuds 65 to travel in. theinclined slots 64 so that the plate 60 will be drawn forwardly away from the upright plate 36 at thesame time that the plate 39 is moved downwardly. This will provide space for the succeeding slices formed by the next operation. As the successive slices are formed, they will be deposited with their broad sides against one another and will be held in inclined position by the plate 60, will be supported by the plate 39, and held from displacement by centrifugal force by the plate 36. When it is desired to return the plate 39 to its upper position, it is only necessary to lift upwardly on the knob 41 and the plate 60 will be automatically moved toits initial position shown in Fig. 3 as the plate 39 is restored to its uppermost position. The end portions 37 of the plate 36 are in position to hold the slices from sliding on the receiving table when the diis reversed.

In place of theslice support 60, it may sometimes be found desirable to use an inclined slice support having ribs or other means for preventing curling of the slices.

This is especially desirable for some grades of bacon, the slices of which have a tendency to roll or curl. Such a device is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A metal plate is shaped to fit over the plate 39 and is provided-with a cap 7l'which fits down over the knob 41. It

will be understoodthat the plate 60 is not used when the plate 70 is employed. The plate 60 may be readily removed by loosening the screw 62 and lifting the plate 60 off of the plate 39. The plate 7 0 is provided with fins or ribs 72 which are cut from the body of the plate and bent into upright position, as indicated in the drawings. The top edges of the ribs are preferably inclined so that the ribs are higher near the center than they are adjacent the periphery of the plate 70. When-the plate 70 is in place on the plate 39, it, of course, will rotate with the receiver 39 and will be fed downwardly but will not be fed horizontally. It will be understood, of course, thatthe plate 'TO-might be mounted in a manner similar to the plate'60 to provide for horizontal movement,or, what is the same thing, ribs similar. to those shown at 72 couldbe provided on the plate 60; In'operati'on, the slices will be deposited on the edges of the ribs 72 and if there is a tendency for the slices to curl, they will be caughtby the ribs 72 and curling prevented.

The inclination of the receiving surface formed by the-ribs 72 permits-the slices to take a curved position conformingsom'ewhatand lift the stack by raising the plate 70.

They may then be dumped from the plate onto the wrapping paper without the necessity of touching the slices.

The receiver shown in'Figs. 6 and 7 is similar in operation to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but its construction is slightly different. In Figs. 6 and 7. a strap 73 forms the periphery of the receiver and this outer strap or band is connected'by rods 7% to the central cap 75 which corresponds to the cap 71 in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

That portion of the forward end of the first slice which overlaps the first rib contacting with the slice, hangs downwardly somewhat over this rib, and this rib can therefore exert a positive pull onthe slice to straighten it out when the receiver moves faster than the meat table. The remaining ribs could therefore be omitteda'nd the slice rearwardoi the part overlapping the rib permitted to rest on a plane rece1v1ng surface. However,

I find it more desirable to support the entire slice on aseries of ribs so perfectlystraight.

I claim a a 1. The combination having a slicing knife, of a receiver for slices formed by said machine, and means for adjusting said receiver both downwardly and bodily horizontally away from the slicing knife to' accon'nnodate and stack additional slices one upon the other as they are deposited thereon.

The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife, of means having an inclined face inclined upwardly and away from the knife for receiving slices from said machine, and means for feeding said receiving means both downwardly and horizontally to accommodate and stack additional slices one upon the other as they are deposited thereon. a r a 3. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and means for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a-slice receiver arranged to move past the cutting edge of said knife to receivesl-ices formedby said knife, and means for periodically adjusting said receiver downwardly and bodily horizontallyaway from said knife to provide room for accommodating and stacking additional slices one upon the other as-they are'depo sited on said receiver. I

4-. The combination with a slicing machine having-a slicing knife and means for presenting material tosaid knife to sever slices therefrom, of a slice receiver arranged to move relative to the cutting face of said knife" to receive slices as they are formed by said knife, said receiver having an inclined slice receiving surface mchne-d upwardly and away from the knife, and means for progressively adjusting said surface downwardly and bodily horizontally away from said knife to accommodate and stack additional'slices one upon the other as they are formed by said knife.

5. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver movable simultaneously with said table past the cut- A ting edge of said knife, said receiver having an inclined slice support thereon arranged to move downwardly and horizontally away from said knife as slices are deposited thereon.

G. The combination with a slicing machine having 'a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knif-e to' be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver arranged to "move past-the cutting ed'ge of said'knif'e that the slices lie with a slicing machine llli) simultaneously with said reciprocating table, said receiver having an inclined curved support thereon, a deflector for directing the slices against said support, and means for moving said support downwardly and horizontally to accommodate additional slices as they are deposited thereon. a

7. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife, of a vertically movable slice receiver, and an inclined slice support mounted on said .receiver and movable horizontally to accommodate successive slices deposited thereon.

8. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a vertically movable slice receiver, an inclined slice support mountedon said receiver, means for feeding said receiver downwardly, and means for feeding said support horizontally away from said knife to accommodate successive slices deposited on said receiver.

9. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a. reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a slice support movable past the cutting edge of said knife simultaneously with the movement of said table, an inclined slice receiver mounted on said support, a deflector for directing slices, as they are formed, onto said inclined slice receiver, means for periodically moving said receiver downwardly,

and means for moving said slice support horizontally when said receiver is moved downwardly.

10. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a slice receiver movable past said slicing knife simultaneously with the movement of said table, means for moving said receiver downwardly, an inclined slice support mounted on said receiver, and means actuated by the downward movement of said receiver for moving said support horizontally.

11. The combination with a slicing ma chine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating tablefor presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a slice receiver movable past the cutting edge of said slicing knife simultaneously with the movement of said table, an inclined slice support mounted on said receiver, means for moving said receiver downwardly, and a cam for moving said support horizontally when said receiver is moved downwa rdly.

12. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table. for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver, an abutment carried by said receiver for preventing slices from being displaced by centrifugal force, means for moving said receiver downwardly relative to said abutment, an inclined slice supportmounted on said receiver, and means for moving said support horizontally away, from said abutment when said receiver is moved downwardly.

13. The combination with a slicing ma% chine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver move able past the cutting edge of said knife si- .multaneously with the movement of said table, an abutment extending about theperiphery of said receiver for preventing centrifugal displacement of slices on said receiver, an inclined slice support mounted on said receiver andmovable horizontally relative thereto, and cam guides for moving said slice support away from said abutment when said receiver is moved downwardly. 14. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocatfrom said, machine, an abutment having a curved portion extending about the periphery of said receiver and having straight portions at the ends of said curved portion, a slice support mounted on said receiver, said straight portions having inclined guideshtherein, studs on said support cooperating with said guides, and means for moving'saidv receiver downwardly, said inclined guides acting to move said support horizontally due to the downward movement of said receiver.

16. The combination .with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife, of a rotary slice receiver arranged to move past. the cutting edge of said knife simultaneously with the movement of said table, said receiver comprising a horizontal plate having a curved edge and straight sides, an abutment plate extending about the curved edge and straight sides of said hori zontal plate, means for progressively feed ing said horizontal plate downwardly rela tive to said abutment plate, an inclined support slidably mounted on said horizontal plate, and cams for moving said supporthorizontally when said horizontal plate is moved downwardly. 7

wease 17. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciproeating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver comprising a horizontal plate, an upright abutment plate extending about the periphery of said horizontal plate, an inclined slice support mounted to slide horizontally on said horizontal plate, a deflector for directing slices from said knife onto said inclined slice support and between said support and said abutment plate, means for feeding said horizontal. plate and slice support thereon clown- Wardly, and cam slots on said abutment plate for feeding said slice support horizontally as said horizontal plate is fed downwardly.

18. The combination with a slicing machine, of a receiver for slices formed by said machine, said receiver having an inclined slice support inclined upwardly away from the knife, and means forvfeeding said support downwardly to accommodate and stack additional slices one upon the other as they are deposited thereon.

19. The combination with a slicing machine. of a receiver for slices formed by said machine, saidreceiver comprising an inclined slice support, an abutment plate spaced from said support, and means for feeding said slice support downwardly.

20. The combination with a slicing machine, of a horizontally rotatable slice receiver having an upright abutment plate extending about the periphery thereof, an inclined slice support facing said abutment plate, and means for feeding said slice support downwardly to accommodate additional slices as they are deposited thereon.

21. The combination with a slicing machine comprising a slicing knife and a reciprocating table for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, of a rotary slice receiver having an inclined slice support mounted thereon, means for moving said slice support past the cutting edge of said knife simultaneously with the movement of said reciprocating table, an upright abutment plate for holding slices on said support against centrifugal displacement, and means for periodically feeding said slice support downwardly relative to said abutment plate to accommodate additional slices as they are deposited on said support.

22. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotatable slicing knife, of a supporting table movable past said slicing knife and adapted to support the substance to be sliced, a deflector arranged adjacent the cutting edge of said knife adapted to deflect the slices away from the cutting edge of said knife after the slices have been cut from said substance by said knife, a slice receiving table oscillatable about a pivot in timed relation to the movement of said substance supporting table, said slice receiving table being movab e in a d wnward direction y feedin me n wh h' pe ate a sp ced marve 1 9 r cei ng m stream en an lic rec i ing abl adapted he m re d e i n sub tan ly per endicularly to e e ment f a .sl ee' sce vins table,

an am a 'mns d l ne t e pat b mere of said slice receiving table for moving;

which a guard-is arranged adj acent the edge of said slice receiving ta l a d fl ifi l substan a distance there r for preventme th mov m sl ces fi sa cl slice r ceiving table and said slice supporting mein; I

ber.

2 I l i g ma hi the omhieatien ith arotata e sl ng nife, Qf it s pp dne a e mov b p s s id s ides k ife we adapted to support the snbstanceto sliced a d e or a ra iasen t e c tting 1 of sa k e a ap to defle t the slif s a W from the cutting edge of said knif' after the slices have been cut from said's bstaaice by said knife, a slice receiving table oseillatable about P v t i tim d e e iqn t he merit of said substance supporting table, said slice receiving table beingmovable in a down rd ir st en' y fe ding mee s'w i h P-Ql' ates at spaced intervals, a slice receiving m m S pp d sa s ic rec iving table adapted to move in adirection'sub stantially perpendicularly to the movement f s id sh r ei n table, and a am an ranged along the path of movement of said slic e eiving 7 able for moving a d slice s pp rting m mbe horiz n ally a sei slics receiving table moves downwardly, said dc:

flectQr ha i g h fle t ng su face th re provided with a plurality ofsp aced ribs haw-V ing relatively narrow slice engaging surfaces for reducing the aniountof resistance offered to the movement of the slices over the spaced ribs as the slices are deflected, away from said knife onto said slice receiving table and slice support.

25. In a slicing machine, the combination with a rotatable slicing knife, ofa supporting table movable past said slicing knife and adapted to support the substance to be sliced, a deflector arranged adjacent the cutting edge of said knife adapted to deflect the slices away from the cutting edge of said knife after the slices have been out from said substance by said knife, a slice receiving table oscillatable about a pivot in timed relation to the movement of said substance supporting table, said slice receiving table being movable in a downward direction by feed ng v means which operates at spaced intervals, a slice receiving member supported on said slice recieving table adaptedto move in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the movement of said slice receiving table, a cam arranged along the path of movement of said slice receiving table for moving said slice supporting member horizontally as said slice receiving table moves downwardly, and

means for connecting said slice receiving table to said substance supporting table comprising a crankpivoted to said slice receiving tableand to said substance supporting table so that the movements imparted to the substance supporting table imparts a movement of said slice receiving table about its pivot.

26. In combination, a slicing knife, a work support adapted to reciprocate past the slicing knife so that a substance supported thereon will have slices cut therefrom, an oscillating slice receiver adjacent the worksupport adapted to receive the slices as they are cut by the knife, said slice receiver having a sloping slice supporting surface adjustable towards and away from said knife, and means stationary with respect to the supporting surface for guiding the edges of said slices and for preventing movement of said slices off said receiver.

27. A slicing machine comprising a reciprocating work support, a slicing knife, an

, adjustable oscillating slice receiver movable in timed relation to the reciprocation of said work support, said slice receiver comprising an inclinedsupporting member adapted to receive slices as they are cut by the knife and adapted to move downwardly and outwardly away from the knife at each complete reciprocation of the work support, and means for guiding the edges of said slices and simultaneously preventing their being thrown by centrifugal force off said oscillating slice receiver. V 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name vto this specification on this 7th day of August, A. D. 1926. I

JOSEPH FOLK. 

